American Diplomats in Russia: Case Studies in Orphan Diplomacy, 1916-1919

(Hardback)

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Anti-Bolshevism, the Allied war effort, German domination, American hegemonythese issues and many more occupied the daily activities of American diplomats in revolutionary Russia. Left with little instruction from Washington and often exposed to danger, the American diplomats took it upon themselves to deal with the chaotic situation. In this unique study, Allison looks at the careers of specific diplomats and at their personal and political agendas, showing how their prejudices often biased their judgment and influenced their actions.

Reviews

"Professor Allison has produced a superb study of Russian-American relations during the revolution and Allied intervention.... Although other scholars have frequently quoted Allison's diplomats, they have usually done so to bolster a particular thesis. As a result, readers never fully understand the points of view of these observers and cannot put them into a coherent context. Consequently, Allison's book is essential reading for anyone truly wishing to make sense of Russian-American relations during the revolution and intervention....American Diplomats in Russia is a well written and exciting account of a pivotal period in history that has much to tell us about foreign intervention and American diplomacy in general. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in Russian history, American history, or American diplomacy and sincerely hope that it will find a wide readership among current foreign service officers."-Charles J. Weeks Department of History, Southern College of Technology
"Professor Allison's study makes a significant contribution to our knowledge about the origins of Soviet-American relations, certainly one of the most important topics in 20th-century diplomatic history.... [It] complements the classic account of early Soviet-American relations by George F. Kennan and the more recent interpretive treatments of David S. Foglesong and David W. McFadden. Based substantially on official documents from the National Archives, Allison has also made excellent use of various private collections, most notably the extensive but underutilized papers of former Ambassador David R. Francis.... Taken together with the existing literature on the subject, Allison's study not only contributes to a fully-rounded picture of the critical initial period of Soviet-American relations but, coincidentally, throws a good deal of light on the similar chaotic political and economic conditions obtaining in contemporary post-Soviet Russia."-John W. Long Department of History, Rider University
.,."a fascinating and highly readable account of the relatively small group of American diplomats and consular officials stationed in Russia who found themselves in the chaos of the Russian revolutions and subsequent outbreak of civil war in that country....Allison's investigation provides a unique look into an important area of American foreign policy during the early months of the Bolshevik regime in Russia....His research is comprehensive and his conclusions are well documented. What makes it particular diplomatic history even better is that Allison approaches his subject in a straightforward manner and with a sensitivity that are rare today among historians....American Diplomats in Russia is highly readable account that will prove useful not only to students of diplomatic history but also to anyone interested in the evolution of early U.S.-Soviet relations or the formulation of U.S. foreign policy during the Wilson presidency."-Journal of Modern History
.,."is well researched and clearly presented."-The Journal of American History
.,."[H]is graphic account of the experiences of each of these diplomats gives a continuity to their efforts not found elsewhere."-The International History Review
...a fascinating and highly readable account of the relatively small group of American diplomats and consular officials stationed in Russia who found themselves in the chaos of the Russian revolutions and subsequent outbreak of civil war in that country....Allison's investigation provides a unique look into an important area of American foreign policy during the early months of the Bolshevik regime in Russia....His research is comprehensive and his conclusions are well documented. What makes it particular diplomatic history even better is that Allison approaches his subject in a straightforward manner and with a sensitivity that are rare today among historians....American Diplomats in Russia is highly readable account that will prove useful not only to students of diplomatic history but also to anyone interested in the evolution of early U.S.-Soviet relations or the formulation of U.S. foreign policy during the Wilson presidency.-Journal of Modern History
...is well researched and clearly presented.-The Journal of American History
...[H]is graphic account of the experiences of each of these diplomats gives a continuity to their efforts not found elsewhere.-The International History Review
Dr Allison's book is clearl yone of the best on this early period of US-Russian relations, a relationship that is as important today as it was in the years 1916-19, and he is to be commended for writing such an excellent work.-The Journal of Slavic Military Studies
...is well researched and clearly presented.The Journal of American History
..."His graphic account of the experiences of each of these diplomats gives a continuity to their efforts not found elsewhere."-The International History Review
..."is well researched and clearly presented."-The Journal of American History
..."[H]is graphic account of the experiences of each of these diplomats gives a continuity to their efforts not found elsewhere."-The International History Review
"Dr Allison's book is clearl yone of the best on this early period of US-Russian relations, a relationship that is as important today as it was in the years 1916-19, and he is to be commended for writing such an excellent work."-The Journal of Slavic Military Studies
..."a fascinating and highly readable account of the relatively small group of American diplomats and consular officials stationed in Russia who found themselves in the chaos of the Russian revolutions and subsequent outbreak of civil war in that country....Allison's investigation provides a unique look into an important area of American foreign policy during the early months of the Bolshevik regime in Russia....His research is comprehensive and his conclusions are well documented. What makes it particular diplomatic history even better is that Allison approaches his subject in a straightforward manner and with a sensitivity that are rare today among historians....American Diplomats in Russia is highly readable account that will prove useful not only to students of diplomatic history but also to anyone interested in the evolution of early U.S.-Soviet relations or the formulation of U.S. foreign policy during the Wilson presidency."-Journal of Modern History

Author Bio

WILLIAM ALLISON is Chair of the Department of History and Political Science at St. Francis College, Indiana.